I am looking for some advice on a good round for 30/06 to use on coyotes. I know there are better calibers out there for yotes. However, this is what I have and any information will be appreciated. Thanks.

Doyle

December 11, 2007, 02:47 PM

Any 30-06 round that you can accurately shoot out to about 250 to 300 yds will be more than adequate for coyotes. With a caliber that powerful, the bullet choice on such a small animal doesn't really matter. Finding one that your rifle shoots well is far more important.

rantingredneck

December 11, 2007, 02:52 PM

Do you plan on keeping the hides? Or are you just doing pest control?

If keeping the hides I would go with a light weight ballistic tip, non bonded core round. Less chance of a messy exit wound. Not sure of any factory loadings like that so you may be looking at a reloading proposition. Without that possibility maybe a FMJ round (if legal) that won't expand??

If you're not keeping the hides then it doesn't much matter as long as you hit the target. I've killed several with 150 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips and 150 gr. Corelokts. Makes a heckuva mess though.

BYSONRYE

December 11, 2007, 03:04 PM

Pest control is all I really have in mind. I guess if a hide looked half way decent I might keep one. So the Hornady 150 grain bullets I have should be fine?

Buzzcook

December 11, 2007, 03:05 PM

A lighter bullet is a good idea. Saves money, less damage to the hide if that's important to you, and makes keeping on target for a second shot easier.
Don't know about the hows and whys of your situation.
The one time I had to shoot coyote was when some were going after sheep and goats at a relatives place. We found that the coyote would take the same path between where they denned up and his property. we set up down wind of that path and took one each. That seemed to end the attacks.
I've found out since that we were pretty lucky.

taylorce1

December 11, 2007, 03:08 PM

The 150 grain should be fine and shouldn't destroy a pelt beyond repair if you decide to keep one. I helped a friend in High School skin out a bunch of coyotes from his Grandfathers trap line :barf:, from then on any coyote I've shot are either taken to a fur trader whole or leave them right there. Smells usually don't bother me that bad but.......

BYSONRYE

December 11, 2007, 03:10 PM

The coyote population has really increased here in last couple of years. I think it is due to the increase in wild turkeys. My plans are to set up and call them in. I have been with a buddy a few times and he has been pretty successfull at it. I am just looking for something else the wife and I can get into.

rantingredneck

December 11, 2007, 03:15 PM

Pest control is all I really have in mind. I guess if a hide looked half way decent I might keep one. So the Hornady 150 grain bullets I have should be fine?

Should do you fine. I will say that as long as you don't hit big bone the exit wounds should be manageable with your load. I usually don't really care where I hit them so shoulders get hit and big fist sized exit wounds result. I'm not after them for pelts, just pest control for the farmers who let me hunt their land. I've actually killed several with my .50 cal muzzleloader. Talk about messes :)....

BYSONRYE

December 11, 2007, 03:22 PM

I too am not worried about the mess. If I blew one in half that would actually be kind of cool. I have no mercy on the yote's. I appreciate everyone's help. Anymore info you guys might have keep it coming. Thanks.

rantingredneck

December 11, 2007, 03:25 PM

If you have shotguns you can also use smaller buckshot sizes or T or BB size waterfowl shot for them. There is also a newish Hevishot load called "Dead Coyote" that's supposed to be good for 70 yds or so. Never tried it myself, though, that stuff is expensive. (about 30 bucks for 10 shells). I've rolled a couple with 00 buck up close in thick timber (30-40 yds). Just throwing this out there for you as another, up close, option.

BYSONRYE

December 11, 2007, 03:32 PM

I had actually planned to carry a shot gun with me. The last time I went yote hunting with my buddy the yote come in so fast that I could not find him in the scope. The yote ended up getting about fifteen yards from us. I shot just over his back with the rifle. If I would have had my shot gun he would have been smoked. You live and you learn.

rantingredneck

December 11, 2007, 03:40 PM

Lots of yote hunters tag team them where two people set up with rifle/shotgun. Covers your bases.

If you have a gun that patterns #4 buckshot well that's probably the ideal choice short of shelling out for the hevishot.

crowbeaner

December 11, 2007, 04:39 PM

Try 1 3/8 or 1 1/2 oz. reloads with BB lead. One H*** of a lot cheaper than $3 a shot. I wouldn't pay that for an African big game rifle's ammo. CB.

jeo556

December 11, 2007, 04:47 PM

If you do plan on keeping the hides than I think that Barnes makes a solid for target use as well as keeping the entry and exit holes as small as possible. Otherwise anything that's accurate out of your rifle. Good luck with the pest control.

Jeo556

Creature

December 11, 2007, 05:24 PM

I too am not worried about the mess. If I blew one in half that would actually be kind of cool. I have no mercy on the yote's.

I use a .243 for coyotes. I only use a 30-06 for deer.... Good Luck hunting..

kyrifleman0714

December 11, 2007, 09:14 PM

There is a 55 grain 30-06 bullet, it has a muzzle velocity of around 4100 fps, that would framgent like a gernade on impact. That sounds about what you need.

rantingredneck

December 11, 2007, 10:37 PM

Is that the saboted Remington Accelerator round? I thought they discontinued that due to pretty poor performance and thus low demand. Maybe I'm wrong......

Edit: I was wrong (http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/comparative_ballistics_results.aspx?data=R30069)

bclark1

December 12, 2007, 12:24 AM

Yeah I've got a half dozen boxes of the Accelerators in case they do get discontinued. I think they were briefly, but got brought back. It was my thoughts exactly, to use them on coyotes. Now I just need to see them when I'm hunting! I hear them in the summer, but when I actually get out to the woods to sit down during shooting light, nothing. Go figure.

I saw a coyote that did get tagged with a .30/06 a few weeks back though. Actually knew of another one as well, but he rolled and ran, they never found him. The one that was dead at the taxidermist though, pretty good size hole in him, but I got more damaging performance on a doe with a similar round. If avoid ballistic tips you'll probably have something left.

10-96

December 12, 2007, 02:35 AM

If you're not reloading, the lightest round I've seen locally has been the 125. Gander is also carrying a 125 Reduced Power load. But I've never messed with one of those.

Art Eatman

December 12, 2007, 10:05 AM

SFAIK, the 110-grain loads are available. Might not be in stock, but any gunshop can get them. Probably available online.

Back when I was a one-gun guy with an '06, the Hornady 110-grain spire point ahead of a max load of 3031 worked great on varmints. Basically the same trajectory as my 150-grain loads.

Art

BYSONRYE

December 12, 2007, 10:24 AM

SFAIK, the 110-grain loads are available. Might not be in stock, but any gunshop can get them. Probably available online.

Back when I was a one-gun guy with an '06, the Hornady 110-grain spire point ahead of a max load of 3031 worked great on varmints. Basically the same trajectory as my 150-grain loads.